TRAINING MATERIALS AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR THE …

[Pages:91]TRAINING MATERIALS AND OTHER RESOURCES FOR THE ATTENDANT CARE

WORKER

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THE ATTENDANT CARE WORKER

F ATTENDANT CARE WORKER ROLE The role of the Attendant Care Worker (ACW) is to provide attendant care services outlined in the service plan while maintaining a safe and comfortable environment. The member and the case manager are responsible for creating the service plan.

F ATTENDANT RIGHTS An ACW in the Self Directed Attendant Care (SDAC) option has the right to:

? Receive a clear, well-defined set of expected tasks and time schedule ? Receive requests for any additional tasks or schedule changes with as

much advance notice as possible ? Receive clear, step-by-step instructions for doing tasks ? Be told ways of doing task(s) that are logical and time/effort efficient ? Receive instructions and other communications in a clear and direct

manner ? Be provided with equipment and supplies that are adequate for performing

assigned tasks ? Be provided with the wage information prior to accepting the position and

be paid for all services rendered ? Perform tasks in a safe working environment ? Negotiate additional tasks requested by a member, including requesting

additional training ? Receive from the member the confidentiality, respect and dignity as a

human who has personal thoughts, values, beliefs, relationships, activities and a personal life outside of providing attendant care services ? Express reasonable concerns regarding working conditions ? Express feelings about work expectations

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F ATTENDANT CARE WORKER RESPONSIBILITIES An ACW in the SDAC option has the responsibility to:

? Feel comfortable doing the work that needs to be done ? Know his/her own skills and limitations and to discuss them with the

member ? Be dependable ? to arrive on time and be ready to go to work ? Notify the member as soon as possible when the ACW knows that s/he will

be late or unable to work ? Give a two-week notice if s/he will be quitting (unless s/he is in danger if

work is continued). Attendant may quit for any reason. ? Provide reliable, safe, high quality services as directed, in a thorough and

caring manner ? Respect the member's dignity, privacy, property, religion, and culture ? Leave personal problems at home! ? Report any suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a dependant

elderly or disabled person ? Complete and submit time cards as instructed; timecards should be

accurate and completed in a timely manner ? Keep personal information about the member and/or their family

confidential (refer to HIPAA training that follows) ? Complete training as instructed by the member ? Communicate clearly and honestly about feelings, needs and routines ? Report emergency situations to the proper authorities

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UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS

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UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS

Universal precautions are practices that help protect against many infectious diseases, such as AIDS or Hepatitis B. Universal precautions can help people avoid contact with blood and certain other bodily fluids. Universal precautions must be followed with all people one comes in contact with, since one cannot be sure who is infected.

Universal precautions should be taken with:

? Blood ? Urine ? Feces ? Saliva ? Sputum ? Wound drainage ? Tears

? Sweat ? Cerebrospinal fluid ? Vaginal secretions or discharge ? Semen ? Breast milk ? Anything wet that comes out of

the body

F DO'S AND DON'TS OF UNIVERSAL PRECAUTIONS

1. Wear gloves when coming in contact with body fluids, blood, and when handling contaminated articles such as lab specimens, dressings, and linens.

2. Wear masks, gowns, and/or goggles in addition to gloves, to protect you during procedures that may involve splashing of blood and/or contaminated body fluids.

3. Wash your hands with soap, running water, and rubbing prior to contact, immediately following contact, and after removing gloves. Wash hands immediately after contact with blood or any body fluids.

4. Place used disposable syringes, needles, and sharp items into a puncture resistant container.

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5. Do not disregard an accidental needle stick or other exposure such as a splash to the eyes or mouth. Cleanse the site thoroughly with soap and water and contact your doctor immediately.

6. Clean all blood and body fluid spills promptly. Use detergent and water followed by a disinfecting solution of one part household bleach to nine parts water.

7. Dispose of articles (used gloves, dressings, bandages, etc.) contaminated with blood or body fluids into a plastic bag. Close the bag tightly, place into a second plastic bag, and discard into a plastic-lined trash can.

8. Treat all linens and clothing soiled with blood or body fluids as infectious. Wear gloves and a gown (if possible) when removing soiled linens or clothing. Place the soiled articles into a plastic bag and later wash the articles in hot (160? F) with detergent for 25 minutes.

HAND WASHING

The single most important universal precaution is hand washing. It is the best way to prevent the spread of germs which cause infections. Hand washing helps to prevent infection from the Attendant Care Worker (ACW) to the member and from the member to the ACW.

F WHEN TO WASH YOUR HANDS ? Immediately if contaminated with blood or other bodily fluids ? Before and after touching wounds or waste ? Before and after physical contact with the member ? After using the bathroom ? After handling soiled items such as linens, clothing, and garbage ? Before and after meals and meal preparation ? After sneezing or coughing into your hand(s) ? After taking off gloves (if gloves are used)

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F HOW TO WASH YOUR HANDS 1. Consider the sink, including the faucet controls, contaminated. Avoid touching the sink. 2. Turn water on using a paper towel and then wet your hands and wrists. 3. Work soap into a lather. 4. Vigorously rub together all surfaces of the lathered hands for 15 seconds. Wash around and under rings, cuticles, and fingernails. 5. Rinse hands thoroughly under a stream of water. Point fingers down so water and contamination won't drip toward elbows. 6. Dry hands completely with a clean, dry paper towel. 7. Use a dry paper towel to turn faucet off. 8. To keep soap from becoming a breeding place for microorganisms, thoroughly clean soap dispensers before refilling with fresh soap. 9. When hand washing facilities are not available at a remote work site, use appropriate antiseptic hand cleaner or antiseptic towelettes. As soon as possible, rewash hands with soap and running water.

Remember: Intact skin is your best defense against bacteria. Treat your hands well!

F WHAT TO AVOID WHEN WASHING HANDS ? DON'T use a standing basin of water to rinse hands ? DON'T use a common hand towel. Always use disposable towels. ? DON'T use sponges or non-disposable cleaning cloths unless you launder them on a regular basis, adding chlorine bleach to the wash water.

Remember: Germs thrive on moist surfaces!

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MODES OF TRANSMISSION FOR COMMON ILLNESSES ? Airborne: Colds, Flu, Measles, Chickenpox, Smallpox ? Animals: Rabies (bite from an infected animal such as a dog, bat, or

squirrel); Trichinosis (eating poorly cooked pork) ? Insect: Bubonic or black plague (bat or flea bites); Malaria (mosquito

bites); Dysentery (common house fly) ? Contact: Mononucleosis, Venereal disease (syphilis, gonorrhea, etc.),

Hepatitis, Tuberculosis, Poliomyelitis, MRSA (staph infection) ? Human: Typhoid Fever, Mumps, Impetigo, Whooping Cough ? Food: Dysentery, Botulism, E Coli, Worms, Salmonella ? Water: Typhoid Fever, Dysentery, Poliomyelitis ? Soil: Tetanus, Dysentery, Worms

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